Police located items from a U-Haul truck stolen from Issaquah in February and arrested suspects in the case, investigators announced Nov. 22.

The truck contained 1,200 silver coins, 13 firearms and several computer towers. Police recovered the truck in Seattle days after the Feb. 13 heist, but the contents remained missing.

The belongings’ owner, Zack Judson, launched a campaign on the Web and social media services to encourage people to report tips. Meanwhile, Issaquah police investigators identified several suspects involved in the sale or possession of stolen items from the truck.

Prosecutors filed possession of stolen property and trafficking in stolen property charges against five people involved in the case.

The former Issaquah insurance agent responsible for stealing more than $1 million from elderly clients to spend on clothing, online psychic advisers and more pleaded guilty Oct. 31.

Jasmine Jamrus-Kassim, 49, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of first-degree theft in King County Superior Court. Prosecutors reduced the number of charges from 21 as part of a plea deal.

The victims approved of the plea deal, said Ian Goodhew, deputy chief of staff for King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg. In some cases, victims’ family members agreed, because the victim had since died.

Prosecutors said Jamrus-Kassim stole at least $1,052,088 between late 2007 and late 2009. The seniors — ranging in age from 74 to 90 — made out checks to Jamrus-Kassim. The clients thought she intended to reinvest the money for them.

Instead, she funneled the money into a personal account for clothes, jewelry and a trip to Mexico.

Court records also show she made large payments to online psychic advisers, including $20,000 to a psychic website in a single month.

King County prosecutors said Mulwa, serving as the homeowners association president, transferred $11,370 from the homeowners association’s account to his business, Orwell Tours and Travel.

In January 2010, a homeowners association employee discovered a withdrawal from a reserve account. Other board members later confronted Mulwa about the withdrawal, but said he lacked the funds to replace the money in the homeowner association’s account. Instead, he did not return the money, prosecutors said.

Jasmine Jamrus-Kassim, a former Issaquah insurance agent, pleaded guilty Monday to stealing more than $1 million from elderly clients.

Investigators said she then used the money to pay for online psychics and more.

Jamrus-Kassim pleaded guilty to 10 counts of first-degree theft in King County Superior Court for stealing retirement funds. Investigators said five victims — Bellevue, Renton and Seattle seniors ranging in age from 74 to 90 — made out checks to the agent because they believed she intended to reinvest the money for them.

Instead, investigators said she funneled the money into a personal account for clothes, jewelry and a trip to Mexico.

King County Council members and Prosecutor Dan Satterberg join University of Washington President Michael Young to recognize the university's 150th anniversary Oct. 31. Contributed

NEW — 6 a.m. Nov. 1, 2011

King County leaders, including many University of Washington alumni, celebrated the institution’s 150th anniversary Monday.

UW alumni County Executive Dow Constantine and Prosecutor Dan Satterberg joined County Council members to present a special recognition to UW President Michael Young. The elected leaders touted the UW as a top research institution in the United States and reminisced about the university.

Lake Sammamish State Park shootout influences decision

King County leaders bolstered efforts to combat street gangs late last month and directed $1.4 million from a law-enforcement emergency fund to confront a rise in gang violence.

The funds aid prosecutors, sheriff’s deputies and community organizations in anti-gang efforts. The county intends to add three deputy prosecutors and a paralegal focused solely on gang-related cases. Plans call for the King County Sheriff’s Office to receive additional equipment and training.

Dow Constantine

Kathy Lambert

County Council members created the law-enforcement emergency fund last year to address unforeseen criminal justice needs.

Councilwoman Kathy Lambert, Issaquah’s representative, joined County Executive Dow Constantine, Prosecutor Dan Satterberg and other leaders Aug. 30 to announce the initiative. The council agreed to fund the initiative a week later.

“We want King County to be a family-friendly and gang-unfriendly area,” she said after the announcement. “We’re taking this very seriously. We’re not putting up with it.”

Lambert said the gang-related shootout at Lake Sammamish State Park in July 2010 also influenced the decision to confront gang violence. The lethal gun battle left a 33-year-old Kent man and a 30-year-old Seattle man dead.

“It used to be that gangs had a neighborhood that they lived in and now they go all over the place,” she said.

King County leaders bolstered efforts to combat street gangs Monday and directed $1.4 million from a law-enforcement emergency fund to confront a rise in gang violence.

Kathy Lambert

The funds aid prosecutors, sheriff’s deputies and community organizations in anti-gang efforts. The county intends to add three deputy prosecutors and a paralegal focused solely on gang-related cases. Plans call for the King County Sheriff’s Office to receive additional equipment and training.

County Council members created the law-enforcement emergency fund last year to address unforeseen criminal justice needs.

The man suspected of selling a fatal dose of heroin to a 19-year-old Issaquah High School graduate pleaded not guilty to a drug homicide charge Aug. 18.

Prosecutors said Adam F. Pepka, 20, sold the heroin Zachary Lyter injected May 3. Investigators said Lyter later died from a heroin overdose. Lyter’s father discovered the former Issaquah High football player dead at the Bellevue home they shared the next day.

Pepka’s case-setting hearing is scheduled for Sept. 1.

The suspected dealer faces a charge for controlled substances homicide, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine. Under state law, a controlled substances homicide is treated similar to manslaughter.

In order to convict Pepka, prosecutors must prove he sold the fatal dose of heroin to Lyter. Investigators said Pepka continued to sell heroin after learning about Lyter’s death from a 17-year-old girl.

Issaquah graduate died from drug overdose

King County prosecutors have filed a seldom-used drug homicide charge against a Seattle man accused of selling a fatal dose of heroin to a former Issaquah High School student.

Zachary Lyter

Prosecutors said Adam F. Pepka, 20, sold the heroin Zachary Lyter injected May 3. Investigators said Lyter later died from a heroin overdose. Lyter’s father discovered the former Issaquah High football player dead at the Bellevue home they shared the next day.

Investigators later determined his blood contained overdose levels of opiates. Police said Lyter admitted his drug problem to family members not long before he died. Officers discovered syringes and drug paraphernalia in his room during the investigation.

Pepka faces a charge for controlled substances homicide, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine. Under state law, a controlled substances homicide is treated similar to manslaughter.

In order to convict Pepka, prosecutors must prove he sold the fatal dose of heroin to Lyter. Investigators said Pepka continued to sell heroin after learning about Lyter’s death from a 17-year-old girl.

King County prosecutors last week filed a seldom-used drug homicide charge against a Seattle man accused of selling a fatal dose of heroin to a former Issaquah High School student.

Prosecutors said Adam F. Pepka, 20, sold the heroin Zachary Lyter injected May 3. Investigators said Lyter later died from a heroin overdose. Lyter’s father discovered the former Issaquah High football player dead at the Bellevue home they shared the next day.

Investigators later determined his blood contained overdose levels of opiates. Police said Lyter admitted his drug problem to family members not long before he died. Officers discovered syringes and drug paraphernalia in his room during the investigation.

Pepka faces a charge for controlled substances homicide, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine. Under state law, a controlled substances homicide is treated similar to manslaughter.